The Brighter Access Sapphire City Festival Committee regretted making the announcement for the October event, but explained the current situation "made it impossible for the committee to deliver the festival to the standard the community has come to expect over the 60 plus years the event has been running".

Yet they told residents not all was lost, as they were planning to deliver extra events next year - events which include a free James Morrison concert in March.

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Mayor and committee chairman Paul Hamon said the group were saddened that there "has been no option but to cancel our Festival this year after months of planning".

"The inability of our headline artists to travel to Inverell and the expected continued limitation on numbers at outdoor events has made the cancellation inevitable," Cr Harmon stated.

"The committee has worked tirelessly to look for ways to produce a successful event, but current and ongoing conditions have stifled their efforts".

In good news, the Federal Government grant bestowed upon the Festival last September by MP Barnaby Joyce will not be lost also, but instead be carried over to next year.

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The $20,000 grant from the Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants program would have been used to pay a feature entertainer for the festival, advertising and fireworks.

The Committee thanked the Festival Sponsors for their ongoing support and understanding.

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